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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.